A letter from Chris McReynolds on the U.S.–Mexico border
July 10, 2010
Dear Friends of Amistad,
The impact of the flooding can be seen at Col. Lopez Mateos.
The flooding in the northeastern region of México (Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon) has been very severe after the recent hurricane Alex and tropical depression Bonnie. All the cities along the Rio Grande (or Rio Bravo) south of Amistad Reservoir (on the international boundary) are flooded to some extent. Reservoirs in the area are at maximum safe capacity and have opened floodgates. The Rio Grande, which crested at 42.5 feet, has not risen this high since the floods of 1954. The churches and members we work with in Ciudad Acuña/Del Rio, Texas, Piedras Negras/Eagle Pass, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo/Laredo, Texas, have been affected.
A family in Monterrey experiences flooding.
Also, as we reported earlier, Monterrey was hard hit, with 12 reported deaths. Roberto will be visiting Nueva Jerusalen Presbyterian Church of Santa Catarina (part of Monterrey) tomorrow to see how we can help. The church and some members’ homes were flooded. Toño’s house near the church was completely washed away.
I will visit Uno en el Espiritu Presbyterian Church of Piedras Negras and Fuente de Vida of Ciudad Acuña tomorrow. Eloisa and family of Fuente de Vida lost everything and her home might be condemned due to foundation erosion. UEEE reports that their members are OK. The area of Villa de Fuente, which many of you helped recover from floods a few years back, is hard hit, again.
Ciudad Anáhuac, a city of 20,000 inhabitants 30 miles from here, in Nuevo Laredo, and downriver from Venustiano Carranza Reservoir, was evacuated and now has flooding throughout the town, including El Divino Redentor Presbyterian Church and members’ homes. Many of these people are in Nuevo Laredo relief centers or with family; however, some are camped out on the highway between Nuevo Laredo and Ciudad Anahuac. We have been unable to contact members from there but are confident they are with family and will follow up.
The churches and members we work with in Ciudad Acuña have been affected by the flooding.
Cities of Sabinas, Monclova and Castaños experienced flooding. Members there are reporting some minor flooding in the churches.
Highway 57 from Sabinas to Piedras Negras is closed due to bridge washout. Other major roads in the area, including the autopista from Nuevo Laredo to Monterrey, have been closed at times.
Thankfully the weather is clear and water levels are receding. We ask for your continued prayers and will be updating you with more information and specific needs. We are asking that you consider donating funds to Proyecto Amistad, at the P.O. Box below, for flood relief. If you have items you think will be helpful in replacing home or church items, we can talk with you about that also. Thank you for your prayers and support.
In Christ,
Chris McReynolds and Roberto Medina
Coordinators for Proyecto Amistad of Presbyterian Border Ministry
P.O.Box 6777
Laredo, TX 78042
The 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 275
